IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v12y2021i1d10.1038_s41467-021-23281-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Infant gut microbiome composition is associated with non-social fear behavior in a pilot study

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander L. Carlson

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Kai Xia

    (University of North Carolina)

  • M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril

    (University of North Carolina
    University of North Carolina)

  • Samuel P. Rosin

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Jason P. Fine

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Wancen Mu

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Jared B. Zopp

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Mary C. Kimmel

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Martin A. Styner

    (University of North Carolina
    University of North Carolina)

  • Amanda L. Thompson

    (University of North Carolina
    University of North Carolina)

  • Cathi B. Propper

    (University of North Carolina)

  • Rebecca C. Knickmeyer

    (University of North Carolina
    Michigan State University
    Michigan State University
    Michigan State University)

Abstract

Experimental manipulation of gut microbes in animal models alters fear behavior and relevant neurocircuitry. In humans, the first year of life is a key period for brain development, the emergence of fearfulness, and the establishment of the gut microbiome. Variation in the infant gut microbiome has previously been linked to cognitive development, but its relationship with fear behavior and neurocircuitry is unknown. In this pilot study of 34 infants, we find that 1-year gut microbiome composition (Weighted Unifrac; lower abundance of Bacteroides, increased abundance of Veillonella, Dialister, and Clostridiales) is significantly associated with increased fear behavior during a non-social fear paradigm. Infants with increased richness and reduced evenness of the 1-month microbiome also display increased non-social fear. This study indicates associations of the human infant gut microbiome with fear behavior and possible relationships with fear-related brain structures on the basis of a small cohort. As such, it represents an important step in understanding the role of the gut microbiome in the development of human fear behaviors, but requires further validation with a larger number of participants.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander L. Carlson & Kai Xia & M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril & Samuel P. Rosin & Jason P. Fine & Wancen Mu & Jared B. Zopp & Mary C. Kimmel & Martin A. Styner & Amanda L. Thompson & Cathi B. Propper & Re, 2021. "Infant gut microbiome composition is associated with non-social fear behavior in a pilot study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23281-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23281-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23281-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-021-23281-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23281-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.